Simplified multi-degree-of-freedom model for estimation of seismic response of regular wall-frame structures

A simplified multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) model is developed for estimation of seismic response of tall wall-frame structures. By using the continuum technique for the structure and adopting the bilinear hysteretic model for material properties, procedure for the development of the simplified MDOF model is derived. The numerical study for a 20-storey reinforced concrete (RC) wall-frame structure is conducted to investigate the accuracy of seismic response predicted by the proposed model. Results from the nonlinear response history analyses based on the proposed MDOF model and the detailed structural model with member-by-member representation are compared and show very good agreement. The proposed simplified MDOF model is shown to provide a simple, efficient and accurate method for estimation of seismic performance of tall wall-frame structures. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.